The Reluctant Vampire - Lynsay Sands [90]
Harper didn’t have a clue what to say to that, and really, speaking would mean releasing the air in his lungs and taking in another. He desperately wanted to avoid doing that until absolutely necessary, so was grateful for the distraction when the door beside them suddenly opened, and Anders entered, bags in hand.
Drina was out of his arms and on Anders at once. “Did you get everything?”
“Dear God, woman! Get back. You stink,” Anders barked.
Harper scowled at the man. It was no more than Drina was doing, however. He wasn’t surprised her moment of sniffly misery had passed and her naturally fiery nature had reasserted itself. This was more the Alexandrina Argenis he knew.
Eyes narrowing, Drina moved closer instead of getting back as Anders had ordered, and then hissed up at the Russian. “And you’re the most miserable SOB I’ve ever encountered, so I guess we all have our crosses to bear.” She snatched the bags from him, and then turned away adding, “The difference is I’m about to bathe away this smell, but when I come down, you’ll still be a miserable SOB.”
Harper found a smile pulling his mouth wide as he watched Drina make her exit, walking out of the room with her eyes blazing and head high, as regal as any queen.
“Damn, she’s magnificent,” he breathed, positive he must be the luckiest bastard on the planet to have found her.
“Glad you think so,” Anders said dryly. “Then you can take these instructions up to her so she doesn’t screw it up and use the stuff in the wrong order or something.”
Harper glanced down at the paper the hunter shoved at him, noting the title Instructions on How to Remove Skunk Odor from a Human. He glanced back to Anders and smiled widely. “I’ll even help her follow the instructions.”
“I’ll bet you will,” Anders said dryly.
Chapter Thirteen
Drina closed the bathroom door behind her with a kick of her heel, set the bags of soap, tomato juice, and vinegar on the bathroom counter, and then turned to the tub, only to pause with a frown. Was she supposed to just pour all this stuff in the tub, or was she supposed to add water or what? She hadn’t a clue. She needed the instructions.
Clucking with irritation, Drina turned back to the door, annoyed with herself because she was about to ruin a damned fine exit by having to scurry back and beg for the instructions. Muttering under her breath, she pulled the door open and found Harper there, hand upraised as if he’d been about to knock.
Smiling crookedly, he lowered the knocking hand and raised the other, revealing the instructions.
“Thank you,” Drina breathed, taking the sheet of paper with a relief that was not proportional to the moment. She knew then that her exhaustion was definitely making her overemotional. She’d sat on that stool all night, nodding off a time or two from sheer exhaustion, but only for a second each time before her swaying body had brought her abruptly back awake.
“Do you want some help?” Harper asked quickly when she started to close the door.
Drina paused in surprise, and then smiled wryly at his pained expression and shook her head. “Thank you for offering. It’s very sweet, but I know I smell like the worst backed-up drainage system ever and wouldn’t even inflict this on Anders.”
“I came prepared,” he said quickly, bringing her to a halt again. This time the door was almost closed, and she had to pull it back open. When she peered at him quizzically, Harper opened the hand he’d had fisted to knock, revealing a clothespin resting in his palm.
Drina released a startled laugh and shook her head. “You—”
Her words caught in her throat when he suddenly covered her mouth with his. Lifting it a moment later, Harper said gently, “I believe the expression is for better or worse. Besides, in a few minutes, it will be all better and no worse.”
She chuckled at the way he wiggled one eyebrow lasciviously and backed into the bathroom to let him in. “All right. You can read the instructions to me.”
Drina handed him back the instructions after a quick glance at the first one. She then moved to the tub to put in the stopper.